True Name
A True Name is a supernatural expression of a magical being's nature and essence. It acts equally as an evolving identifier and a terminal delimiter, and it can be used in magical rituals to call out or call forth an individual for access and effect. As a creature learns and grows, its True Name both adapts to its new characteristics and grows in length to reflect its new skills and powers. A True Name can be expressed through pitches and syllables, but it is not made up of pitches and syllables--those are merely the tonal representation of ephemeral concepts.
Mages often write down True Names in order to use them in magical rituals. This can take the form of written syllables and musical notation, but many mages use glyphs and symbols of their own creation to prevent other mages from stealing a True Name for their own collections.
Collecting components of a True Name is a difficult and, often, time-consuming process. It can be done through external observation of the target's true nature, but this method is really only useful in times of crushing stress or transcendent bliss, as those are the times a creature's true nature is most likely to be made clear. Some magical creatures, like angels and demons and faeries, have a thriving economy based on the trade of True Names. If a mage can decipher another summoner's library in full or in part, ze can gain components that way. If a mage witnesses another's summoner's ritual, ze may be able to catch one or more syllables from a True Name as the caster is speaking them. Beyond that, gathering components of True Names is often an exercise in luck, deduction, and trial and error.
System: In game terms, a True Name has a number of components roughly equal to a creature's Challenge Rating. The more of these components a mage knows, the better hir access to the target. If a mage knows all the components of a target's True Name and uses them, it makes it extremely difficult for the target to resist the caster's will.
Mages often write down True Names in order to use them in magical rituals. This can take the form of written syllables and musical notation, but many mages use glyphs and symbols of their own creation to prevent other mages from stealing a True Name for their own collections.
Collecting components of a True Name is a difficult and, often, time-consuming process. It can be done through external observation of the target's true nature, but this method is really only useful in times of crushing stress or transcendent bliss, as those are the times a creature's true nature is most likely to be made clear. Some magical creatures, like angels and demons and faeries, have a thriving economy based on the trade of True Names. If a mage can decipher another summoner's library in full or in part, ze can gain components that way. If a mage witnesses another's summoner's ritual, ze may be able to catch one or more syllables from a True Name as the caster is speaking them. Beyond that, gathering components of True Names is often an exercise in luck, deduction, and trial and error.
System: In game terms, a True Name has a number of components roughly equal to a creature's Challenge Rating. The more of these components a mage knows, the better hir access to the target. If a mage knows all the components of a target's True Name and uses them, it makes it extremely difficult for the target to resist the caster's will.
Type
Metaphysical, Supernatural
Comments